Matt and Emma Willis have revealed how an "awkward row" in a hot tub caused two members of the public to think their 18-year marriage was crumbling.
The Busted star and new Strictly Come Dancing judge boast one of showbiz's most solid marriages. The pair wed in 2008 and have since welcomed three children together.
A stunt for ITV game show Celebrity Sabotage left unsuspecting members of the public convinced things were anything but harmonious, however, and the unwitting victims of the prank refused to speak to Matt for the remainder of the day.
Prank dating show goes wrong
Celebrity Sabotage features a team of celebrities collaborating to "sabotage" people in a bid to secure them a substantial cash prize.
During the programme, Matt and Emma pretended to present a bogus dating show titled Couple Goals. Guided by show producers through concealed earpieces, the Busted bassist and his television presenter spouse enacted a blazing row while seated in a hot tub alongside two individuals.
Matt said the two unsuspecting contestants were disgusted by his behaviour.
Earpiece mishap makes row worse
"We had an earpiece in and people were telling us what to do," Matt revealed on the Tea At Four podcast. "They were telling us to have this row in a hot tub and Emma went in ... she was fully method."
Following Matt's compliance with the instructions filtering through his earpiece as he splashed some water at his wife, a startled Emma retaliated: "I took it even further and went and splashed him. But I splashed him so much that I soaked his earpiece," she confessed.
Feigning upset, Emma declared to Matt: "You're making me feel really stupid!" which left the stunned witnesses viewing him as a bully. "They didn't speak to me for the rest of filming," Matt recalled.
Guests blank Matt after prank
"They kept giving him daggers, because they didn't know it was fake obviously."
He describes how the couple, both of whom were named Jason, shunned him when they saw him in a corridor later: "They wouldn't look at me, they hated me. [They said], 'Morning Emma' and blanked me."
Reflecting on how awkward the situation had been, Emma added: "Bless that couple. They were they were so uncomfortable and they tried so hard."
Marriage still strong
While the hot tub row was entirely fabricated, Matt and Emma's marriage has faced its fair share of genuine challenges. But Emma maintains that she and Matt still "love being with each other".
She told Closer: "You'd think if you lived and worked together, you'd be like, 'Christ, I need a break!' But we don't. We just absolutely love being with each other all the time."
Matt added: "Of all the things I do, Love Is Blind is my favourite and it's mainly because I'm working with Emma. We get to do this really cool job together, we get flown around the world with this amazing show which is all about love, and I'm with my best mate every day."
Emma presents a new series of The Voice UK from 7pm tonight (Saturday, August 22) on ITV.
